Tectona grandis (Lamiaceae)-Mighty Teak Tree

Das K
Nov 4, 2022
8 min read

Tectona grandis (Teak)

1. Taxonomic insights

Species: Tectona grandis

Family: Lamiaceae (Previously classified in Verbenaceae)

Genus: Tectona

Related Herbs from the same family:

Ocimum tenuiflorum (Tulsi, Holy Basil): A premier Ayurvedic adaptogen used for immunity, stress, and respiratory health.
Mentha spicata (Pudina, Spearmint): A common digestive and cooling herb.
Coleus amboinicus (Panikoorka, Indian Borage): A popular remedy for cough, cold, and fever, especially in South India.
Anisomeles malabarica (Malabar Catmint): As previously detailed, used for fevers and skin conditions.

3. Medicinal Uses:Anti-inflammatory, Antipyretic (fever-reducing), Diuretic, Astringent, Antimicrobial, Anti-diabetic, Uterotonic.

4. Phytochemicals specific to the plant and their action.

Quinones and Naphthoquinones: Notably Tectoquinone and Lapachol. These are the primary bioactive compounds. They possess significant Antimicrobial, Anti-inflammatory, and Antipyretic properties. Lapachol has also been studied for its anti-tumor and anti-malarial potential.

Tannins (Gallotannins and Ellagitannins): Abundant in the leaves and bark. These compounds are responsible for the strong Astringent property, making teak useful for treating wounds, diarrhea, and bleeding gums. They also contribute to its Antioxidant capacity.

Volatile Oils and Sesquiterpenes: The essential oil from flowers and leaves contains various terpenes. These contribute to the plant's fragrance and may support its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory actions.

Flavonoids: Such as Amentoflavone. These compounds provide additional Antioxidant and Anti-inflammatory benefits.

5. Traditional and Ethnobotanical uses covering the Medicinal uses.

Anti-inflammatory and Astringent for Skin and Mucous Membranes

Formulation: Leaf decoction for wash; bark decoction for gargle.

Preparation & Use: A decoction of the leaves is used as a wash for skin diseases, ulcers, and inflamed wounds. A decoction of the bark is used as a gargle for sore throats and mouth ulcers, and to strengthen gums.

Reasoning: The high Tannin content acts as an astringent, precipitating proteins to form a protective layer over wounds and inflamed tissues, reducing secretion and promoting healing. The Anti-inflammatory quinones reduce underlying swelling.

Antipyretic and Anti-diabetic

Formulation: Flower decoction or infusion.

Preparation & Use: An infusion of the flowers is traditionally used to treat biliousness (excess bile) and high fever. The flowers are also used in some traditional systems to help manage blood sugar levels.

Reasoning: The Naphthoquinones (like Lapachol) are known for their antipyretic action. Certain compounds in the flowers are believed to stimulate insulin secretion or improve glucose metabolism.

Uterotonic and for Menstrual Disorders

Formulation: Leaf or flower decoction.

Preparation & Use: A controlled decoction of the leaves or flowers is used in some folk traditions to regulate menstruation and address menstrual pain.

Reasoning: The presence of certain bioactive compounds is believed to have a stimulating effect on the uterine muscles. This use requires extreme caution and expert guidance.

Diuretic for Urinary Issues

Formulation: Leaf decoction.

Preparation & Use: The leaf decoction is consumed to promote urination and provide relief in urinary tract disorders.

Reasoning: The Diuretic property helps flush the urinary system, while the Antimicrobial compounds may help address underlying infections.

6. Teas, Juices, Healing recipes and Culinary uses (if any)

Teak is not used in common cuisine. Its applications are strictly medicinal and administered with caution. However big unbroken teak leaves are used to serve food. The heat from the hot ingredients helps pass on low dose of medicinal bioactive compounds into the food- thereby extending their medicinal benefits to the food items.

Astringent Mouthwash and Gargle

Purpose: To strengthen gums, treat mouth ulcers, and soothe a sore throat.

Preparation & Use:Take a small piece of teak bark (approx. 10g). Boil in 2 cups of water until it reduces to 1 cup. Strain and allow to cool. Use this decoction as a mouthwash or gargle 2-3 times a day. Do not swallow.

Anti-inflammatory Skin Wash

Purpose: To clean and heal infected wounds and skin inflammation.

Preparation & Use:A handful of fresh teak leaves are boiled in 1 liter of water for 10-15 minutes. The decoction is allowed to cool and is then used to wash the affected area.

7. In-Depth Phytochemical Profile and Clinical Significance of Tectona grandis

The reputation of Tectona grandis extends far beyond woodworking. Its various parts—leaves, bark, flowers, and seeds—are a reservoir of potent bioactive compounds, particularly high-value quinones and flavonoids, which confer a wide spectrum of therapeutic properties. This profile decodes the phytochemical basis for its use in treating inflammation, infection, diabetes, and more.

1. Quinones: The Powerhouse Pigments

Key Compounds: Tectoquinone (2-Methylanthraquinone), Lapachol, Anthraquinone, 5-Hydroxylapachol.
Actions and Clinical Relevance:This is the most significant and defining class of compounds in Teak, responsible for its core bioactivities.
- Anticancer & Antitumor: Tectoquinone and Lapachol are the most studied for their potent cytotoxic effects against various cancer cell lines. They induce apoptosis (programmed cell death) and inhibit DNA topoisomerase, disrupting cancer cell proliferation. Lapachol has a history of investigation as a natural chemotherapeutic agent.
- Antimicrobial & Antifungal: These quinones exhibit broad-spectrum activity against bacteria (including Staphylococcus aureus) and fungi. This validates the traditional use of teak wood and leaves for storing food, treating wounds, and managing skin infections. The inherent durability and termite-resistance of teak wood are also attributed to these compounds.
- Anti-inflammatory: Tectoquinone demonstrates significant anti-inflammatory activity by inhibiting key pro-inflammatory cytokines, supporting its use in managing inflammatory conditions.

2. Flavonoids: The Versatile Antioxidants

Key Compounds: Catechin, Epicatechin, Quercetin, Kaempferol, Vitexin, and their glycosides.
Actions and Clinical Relevance:Flavonoids provide a critical layer of antioxidant and therapeutic support.
- Antioxidant & Hepatoprotective: Catechin and Epicatechin (monomers of proanthocyanidins) are powerful antioxidants that protect the liver from toxin-induced damage (hepatoprotection) and reduce overall oxidative stress.
- Antidiabetic: Flavonoids like Quercetin and Vitexin contribute to hypoglycemic effects by enhancing glucose uptake and inhibiting carbohydrate-digesting enzymes (α-glucosidase).
- Vascular Protection: Catechin is known to improve endothelial function and strengthen capillaries, contributing to cardiovascular health.

3. Phenolic Acids & Tannins: The Astringent Protectors

Key Compounds: Gallic acid, Ellagic acid, Chlorogenic acid, and Condensed Tannins (Proanthocyanidins).
Actions and Clinical Relevance:
- Antioxidant & Antipyretic: Gallic acid is a benchmark antioxidant with proven antipyretic (fever-reducing) and analgesic properties, explaining the use of teak bark and leaves in decoctions for fever.
- Astringent & Antidiarrheal: The high tannin content provides strong astringent properties, which help contract tissues, reduce secretions, and protect mucous membranes. This is the basis for its traditional use in treating diarrhea, wounds, and hemorrhoids.
- Wound Healing: The combination of antimicrobial quinones and astringent tannins creates a powerful environment for cleansing and contracting wounds, promoting faster healing.

4. Terpenoids and Volatile Oils: The Aromatic Bioactives

Key Compounds: Monoterpenes and Sesquiterpenes.
Actions and Clinical Relevance:
- Antimicrobial & Insecticidal: The volatile oils contribute to the plant's defense against insects and microbes, reinforcing the actions of the quinones.
- Anti-inflammatory: Certain sesquiterpenoids are known for their anti-inflammatory properties, adding to the overall effect.

5. Saponins: The Surface-Active Agents

Key Compounds: Triterpenoid saponins (structures not fully elucidated).
Actions and Clinical Relevance:
- Antimicrobial & Anti-inflammatory: As with many plants, saponins contribute to the overall antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory profile through their surfactant action, which can disrupt microbial cell membranes.
- Expectorant: Their irritant action on mucous membranes can stimulate the secretion of watery fluid in the respiratory tract, lending credence to the traditional use of teak for coughs and bronchitis.

6. Other Important Compounds

Key Compound: β-Sitosterol
Actions and Clinical Relevance:This ubiquitous phytosterol adds another layer of therapeutic action.
- Anti-inflammatory: It modulates the inflammatory response.
- Antihyperlipidemic: It helps lower LDL cholesterol levels by competing with dietary cholesterol for absorption.

An Integrated View of Healing Phytochemicals in Tectona grandis

The medicinal efficacy of Tectona grandis is a result of a powerful phytochemical consortium:

For Antimicrobial & Wound Care: A powerful synergy exists between Quinones (direct antimicrobial action), Tannins (astringent, tissue-contracting), and Saponins (membrane disruption).
For Anti-inflammatory & Analgesic Use: Quinones (Tectoquinone), Flavonoids, and β-Sitosterol target inflammation through multiple pathways, providing relief from pain and swelling.
For Metabolic and Organ Protection: Flavonoids (Catechin) and Phenolic acids (Gallic acid) provide strong antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects, while also contributing to blood sugar management.
For Potential Oncological Applications: The high concentration of Tectoquinone and Lapachol positions Teak as a significant species for the discovery of novel anticancer agents.

This complex profile of bioactive compounds reveals that Tectona grandis is not merely a timber tree but a sophisticated chemical factory, whose medicinal value is firmly grounded in a compelling and potent phytochemical foundation.

Its compounds warrant further investigation for developing modern therapeutics for cancer, infectious diseases, and inflammatory disorders.

Disclaimer:Tectona grandis is a potent medicinal plant. Internal consumption of its preparations, particularly from the wood and bark, should be done with great caution and under the supervision of a qualified practitioner. Compounds like Lapachol have shown toxicity in high doses. Due to its uterotonic properties, it is contraindicated during pregnancy. This information is for academic and educational purposes only and is not a recommendation for self-medication.

-x-x

8. Reference Books, Books for In-depth Study:

Indian Medicinal Plants by K.S. Kiritkar and B.D. Basu
Wealth of India - Raw Materials Series by CSIR
Journal of Ethnopharmacology (for phytochemical studies)

9. Further study:

Henna (Mehndi): Scientific name: Lawsonia inermis. Family: Lythraceae. Shares high tannin content and strong astringent properties, making it similarly useful for skin conditions, wounds, and as a hair and skin conditioner.
Pau D'Arco: Scientific name: Handroanthus impetiginosus (Bignoniaceae). While from a different family and continent, Pau D'Arco's inner bark contains similar naphthoquinones (like Lapachol) and is used in South American traditional medicine for similar purposes: fevers, infections, and inflammation, providing a fascinating phytochemical parallel.

-x-x-x-End-x-x-x

Medicinal Uses: Expels Kidney stones, Improves Kidney function, Antidiabetes, Used for Scabies Leprosy and other skin infections, For Leucoderma and Skin discolorations, Promotes hair growth, Antipyretic, Anti-inflammatory, Antioxidant, Nematocidal (Expels worms), Antimicrobial, Antifungal, Antibacterial, Anti-tumor and also helps arrest bleeding due to Haemoptysis.

Traditional uses:

Freshly harvested leaves can be used as a natural disposable plate.
Decoction of the leaves, stems, flowers helps with addressing Diabetes. Alternatively, 1-2 grams of the dried leaf powder can be taken with water in the morning.
A similar decoction made by adding bark pieces as well is good for addressing asthma. This decoction also has nematocidal properties and helps expel worms
Teak decoction helps with improving kidney function. It helps with oedema and water retention. Whilst it acts as a kidney tonic helping the kidneys with urine formation, it also helps control excess uncontrolled urination as well.
Teak decoction also helps address stomach pain and mild colic.
Oil extracted from teak flowers can be used to help contain the scabies mite.
Teak flower oil also helps reduce dandruff and hairfall.
Oil made by using tender teak leaves, flowers and tender pieces of bark has antifungal properties and can be used for persistent fungal infections. This oil can also be used for burns, scars and to arrest hairfall.
Seed decoction is taken two to three times daily to help expel kidney stones. To make the Decoction: Take 1 tsp of powdered seeds and add it to 200ml of water. Boil down to make 100 ml.

Teak Oil preparation:

Take about 50 grams of tender leaves, flowers and bark. Grind to a fine paste along with 100 to 200 ml of water. To this add 300 ml of Coconut oil and cook on a low flame till the oil separates out and all of the water evaporartes. Let it cool before filtering the oil through a fine sieve.

Disclaimer: For the untrained eye, many plants appear similar. Do not attempt to harvest and use herbs until and unless you are familiar with herb identification and usage.

If you want to use any of the herbs mentioned on these blogs, please do so under the guidance of a doctor or a holistic practitioner. You can also write to us at feedback@prehealing.com for usage information specific to your issue.

References: